Need to Decide on a washer

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DON'T MIX!!!

Please, please never mix chlorine cleaners with any other cleaners.

Especially with pool chlorine, don't try to do multiple things at once.

First disinfect (Chlorine)
Descale (acidity; vinegar or citric acid)
Then Clean (DW detergent).

Go only one route at once. Make sure that there is no possibility of any bigger mixing!

Chlorgas can get f-ing nasty...
 
I have to concur with Yogitunes. I own a GE PFWS4600LWW (now discontinued) and I have a clean washer cycle that is really not required. I never have a smells or growth or discoloration of the boot. I wash my towels and whites in hot water. I use bleach. I have been watering down the softener. I use Tide HE turbo, All Small and Mighty as well as the All pods. I love my front loader for the flexibility. You can't get an overnight ready cycle or steam refresh cycle with a top loader.

peace.
 
I've had my Asko for just short of 20 years! I have never had to buy any of the washer cleaner treatments nor does it smell. I use fabric softener in every load, I have a water softener, and I use Clorox and very hot water in all my white loads. I don't think I've ever washed a load in cold water since I bought it new in 1997. The door is always left open. I can look through the spin holes in the drum to the stainless exterior tub and see that it's still shiny with no scummy buildup.
 
IMO------

Funny how the old front-loaders never had a sanitation problem.
Of course, in those days, detergents had phosphates and the manufacturers weren't trying to peddle products for "cold" water only, everybody used either a Hot or Warm wash with a Warm rinse. Bleach was a common additive. So was ammonia.

You never saw or heard of products to "wash" your washing machine.

If the public saw the "black vaseline jelly" that forms where they cannot see they would understand where that nasty odor originates. Washers have becomes sewers for laundry.

Also, for the normal household there is not a huge difference in the operational ,savings of TL vs FL.
Because of the extra cost of a FL it would take ten years or so to get a return on that expenditure. Just not enough savings in water or detergent to make a huge difference. Certainly not as much as the people who peddle these machines like to tout, unless you are washing ten loads a day seven days a week.
And, unless it is in short supply,such as well-water, water is still a pretty cheap and available utility.

My old KAid Dishwasher cleans circles around all the newest expensive stuff because it uses plenty of water. And it cleans and dries them in about 35 minutes instead of two hours. The typical FL washer takes forever to wash a normal load. We have't advanced very much when a Unimatic will wash a load in 25 min.

I dialed-up the water levels in both my Fridgemore FL and my newer SQ TL. Both of them clean well with no sanitation problems and associated foul odors. I don't care how much water I use. I want clean laundry and dishes! I also add my own phosphates, as my water is hard in this area.

As it stands today, I can't think of one brand of TL machine I would buy over a SQ. I would rather have SQ's Cheapest TL than anyone else's best. If I HAD to buy a FL I would also get a SQ (although I completely agree with Bruce that they need internal heating).
 
Steve (Gyrafoam) "Washers have become sewers for laundry."  

 

Has to be one of the wittiest folks I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in person from AW!  

 

OMG Steve, LMAO, you are hysterical, but ya know what??????????????????  Straight to the point and you are ALWAYS exactly correct.  Your descriptions are perfect and fit every circumstance.

 

 

Good luck Ms. Lisa!  You asked, they/we responded
 
yeah, I agree, the cost of a FLer, hoping in todays standards, you get 10 years out of it, only to finally pay for itself....where are your savings?

but yeah, for doing a lot of wash, the only savings I see, or rather the advantage to a FLer, is HOT WATER.....if your not using it, a FLer is worthless...detergent used to be a savings, until the special HE formulas came out, making them cost more.....no savings there...

I went from a childhood one cycle wonder filter flo, to a TOL Kenmore with every bell and whistle on it.....for what?.....only to return to using Normal cycle, warm wash, cold rinse....never touching the other cycles.....I just don't see a need for all the fancy cycles and options....

plain jane machines seemed to last longer as well....
 
Washers

We have had our Duet for 6 years now and it is fantastic. Our washer is on the main floor and sees quite a bit of airflow. I am wondering if your basement needs a dehumidifier to help? Just a suggestion. I never run a clean washer cycle because I find it more efficient and effective to run a sanitize cycle with towels. My machine sees small amounts of bleach every week and has no odors or molds. I have used too loaders that smell FAR worse than you would expect. Too much detergent, low temp washes, no bleach, and Fabric Softener are disastrous combinations. Hot water on the Normal cycle = a warm wash. Try the whites cycle for towels, sheets, whites, and rags. Adjust your laundering habits for a few cycles and see what occurs before spending butt loads of $$$. HE top loaders will not provide as clean or as fresh laundry.
 
I too totally agree with Martin (Yogi). I have owned 6 different FL's over the years and my current washer is an LG WM3170CW that I have used for over 18 mo. I have never had an issue with mold or odors from any FL I've owned. I wash just about every load in hot, maybe 3 times a year I'll do a load in warm, but never cold. I use bleach in every load of whites and always use fabric softener. At the end of every use I take a clean wash cloth and dry the door window, gasket and dispenser drawer and leave the door and dispenser open while the clothes are drying. On the LG there is a magnet that keeps the door slighly ajar when not in use and I think this also helps keep the machine aired out.

And I also agree with Martin about the simple BOL machines being more practical. I almost never use any of the specialized cycles. I programmed my LG favorite cycle for the Perm Press cycle (it uses more water), hot wash normal soil level and water plus. This way I just have to press 3 buttons and the cycle begins. The only thing that I would change about the LG is make it less sensitive to finding a "sweet spot" for going into a spin. Seems like it could be programmed to begin at a slow spin speed to get the load distrubuted evenly and gradually pick up speed until it reaches the max spin speed for the cycle. The long time that it takes to go into a spin sometimes seems like a real waste of time.
Eddie
 
gyrafoam, you move to the head of the class my friend. And allow me to call you friend.

You demonstrate common sense and logic, something that is absent among the eco-nazis these days.

You echoed what I have said, verbatim, for a long time now. Thankfully I'm not alone here, I might not have a mom or dad any longer but at least there is someone who can think outside of the box and not succumb to media hype about climate change, water shortages and the sky falling.

Only thing I'll add to your post is the stupidity of dishwasher cleaners. Yikes! LIke the FL or TL machine which have been neutered beyond belief, we're now supposed to spend extra $$$ and buy another man er excuse me, human made chemical to clean the very machine that is supposed to CLEAN our dishes! I supposed that might make sense to someone but it makes no sense to me. Sure, I use a whopping 2.5 gallons of water on a typical load, but I buy an extra chemical to ensure the machine stays clean for the next load. And this is cost effective how? What about the expanded carbon footprint? Algore, can you hear me?

Et cetera...........
 
Just relaying my own experience.....

Our 50 year old turquoise Maytag A606 finally gave out on us before Halloween. I immediately began searching the internet for info and reviews. I also came to this forum and sought repair guidance.
Well it turned out to be a pretty much impossible fix having to with the transmission and parts are no longer available.

After so many years with the same "old school" washer I was shocked at what is now considered a "washing" machine. I even considered buying used off craigslist if I could find something older, to my surprise they have been making crappy direct drive machines for many years.

Then I heard about Speed Queen. Ok, some may call them overrated but as soon as we saw that it is belt driven, metal gears, adjustable water level, mechanical dial and made in Wisconsin we ordered one from our local appliance dealer (and we supported a small business)

Picked it up three weeks ago and I cannot believe how happy I am. I spent many sleepless nights, literally, worried about this decision. Just like the appliance man said, this as close to my 50 year old Maytag as I will find nowadays.

I can report that it indeed washes the clothes well, I can adjust the water to the level *I* want, it is a simple to use dial, the cycles are fast and the water spins out excellent. The lid does not lock so I can add clothes mid cycle.

I DONT use what I sarcastically call the "gov't mandated" cycle, the "Normal/Eco" cycle. And this machine gives me that choice.

And when I compared the price to those advertised at Best Buy, Sears and Home Depot etc it really wasn't that much more. Well unless you are comparing it to the models they sell for three hundred bucks.

Best purchase I have made in years, absolutely no regrets. I still miss the old Maytag but she hasn't gone far. She's still in the basement.
 
msmaiden, you made a wise choice that will serve you for years to come.

FYI......I sold dad's AWN542 to the dear friends who helped me with the house for shall I say.....ahem......a very good price. No I did not gouge them! But they got the deal of the century believe me.

They took it out over the weekend. Replaced a worn out something or another TL machine with a rather small tub.

Guess what? I receive a call today not from wayne, nor Jason, but Sharon, the wife.

She wondered "where has a machine like this been hiding all these years?" I said well Sharon, it was at xxxxxxx port St Lucie FL for the last 5 or so years. She laughed and said, hells bells, had I known that I would have tried to get it sooner!

Yet another satisfied SQ user......ok Alliance, where's my finders/keepers fee?
 
air flow

I know some of the newer FL models have a vent fan built into them, but I came across a universal retrofit fan online a few days ago. Anybody used one here? We don't need it since we always leave the door open but it might help some. One is velcro, the other is magnetic. A person doesn't have to spend a lot of money on their product, a small computer fan would work if one is a little handy.

http://https//washerfan.com/
 
Msmaiden,
Which model did you choose? I actually AM losing a lot of sleep over this!
I did find the receipt of my Maytag Maxima X pair last night. They were purchased in May of 2013. I have a lot of guilt over the idea of replacing a fairly new machine as the pair was expensive.
We do have mold & mildew problems in our basement, no airflow & we've needed a dehumidifier for years but Hubby insists it's not necessary even after cleaning & repainting the bathroom down there because of it. He says it only appears because the kids take long, hot showers. So idk.
2 years ago we got ductless AC installed & I was hoping that would help the problem. Previously we had no permanent heat source or any ac at all down there, except baseboard in the bathroom.
All that just makes new wonder if I stick with it, am I always going to be struggling with this issue. Also, I have been told in the past that LCB was not good to use in septic systems because it can kill some sort of beneficial microorganisms.
I think coming here might have made my decision more difficult because of the directly opposing viewpoints.

Keep it, clean it, take better care of it & follow the rules to keep it clean
Or
Just get a Speed Queen for $1,000. Keep the lid up, move on & find something else to worry about. But it's my understanding that I better get one before the 2017 models come out if do.
 
SQ me too

Our SQ AWN542 and matching elec dryer are 4yrs,4 mos old and we're very pleased. I'm 62 and love the classic sounds,good/quick cleaning,simplicity and ability to change any part of cycles any time.

Having to rinse towels at least twice most times to get the 'bubbles' gone is a negative,but the smoothest spin of any washer I've seen is impressive.

I'd buy these again NO question.
 
I`d keep it. Tossing such a nice and expensive washer after not even 4 years would be a "sin".

First of all you need to clean it thoroughly. Run the longest possible cycle empty with at least 2 cups of bleach. Do you have a sanitize or clean washer cycle? Those would be just perfect. Don`t forget to wipe down the rubber boot and the detergent drawer with bleach then rinse well.
Next I would run another hot long cycle with dishwasher detergent. Put 3-4 dishwasher tabs into an old sock and place it directly into the drum. This way you keep the tabs from being caught in the door seal before they dissolve.

Now that your washer is clean and free of mold you can keep it this way by following a few simple rules. No special pampering is required.

#1 Detergent
Don`t skimp on the quantity of a good detergent. Respect dosing instuctions. While it is true that FLs use less water and so the detergent gets less diluted you also have to consider the fact that the amount of soil the detergent has to deal with will still be the same. If there is any kind of nasty build up in a washer it is always the result of constant underdosing.
A build up from using too much detergent is a total myth in my opinion.
Go easy on the fabric softener, though.

#2 Length of cycle
If you dose correcty and still find your clothes aren`t as clean as you`d like them you might have used the wrong cycle.
Front loades are very gentle on clothing compared to toploades but they require a longer washtime to get great results. Don`t be afraid of using long cycles intended for heavy soiled clothes even when washing daily loads. Your clothes will still last much longer than in any toploader.

#3 Temperature
Go easy on the number of cold wash cycles. If you cannot or don`t want to use chorine bleach on a regular basis you could use the sanitize cycle at least sometimes for sturdy things like towels or sheets.
Don`t take the care labels too seriously use common sense instead.

#4 Ventilation
Leave at least the door and when possible the detergent drawer open when the washer is not in use. There shouldn`t be any need to wipe dry anything, just let it airdry and leave open.
Doesn`t look good but it is essential for a happy front loader.

If you follow a few simple rules you`re gonna love your FL. Promise!
 
Thank you askolover-the fan sounds like a great idea for me even though $100 is pretty salty, but they are OUT OF STOCK!! not expected to be restocked for 3 to 4 months. Just my luck :(

mrboilwash,
You're quite right that it's almost a sin to toss such an expensive machine. I'm going out later & will pick up some Persil. As I said, pods are not dissolving so I'm done with those. I have never been a fan of fabric softener. I don't use scented laundry products either. If I want to smell pretty, I'll wear perfume. I don't need the scents of my laundry competing with the other personal products I use like shampoo, curl creme, etc. One of my pet peeves. I just don't use it.
It's funny that I don't actually have "whites" to bleach. Hubby doesn't wear white T shirts or tighty whities & neither does my son. So that leaves socks! My daughter wears head to toe black for her job. I have 2 very hairy dogs (Corgi & Sheltie) & would NEVER buy white towels.

So,at least for now, I'm going to keep, clean & care for my Maytag. Hopefully I will be able to get a fan too, & that should help.
I thank everyone for their input. Perhaps, when this machine bites the dust, there will be better options.
 
Have you had your water properly tested by a lab. From the sounds of it sounds to me like you have a high iron content if you're getting that light reddish (coral colored?) residue.  Many people try or are told to solve the iron issue with a water softener which helps somewhat but doesn't work anywhere near as good as a dedicated whole house iron filter (which looks somewhat like a water softener) . Plus with an iron filter there's no  salt to add etc..   
 
Keeping An Automatic Washer Clean

Hi Stefan, [ mrboilwash ] Your advice is 100% on the money, I should print it out and give it out to our customers.

 

Hi Lisa, you are correct that you should not use a lot of bleach if your waste water goes into a septic tank, but using a little is going to be less harmful than going back to a TL washer where you a dumping 50 gallons of water into the ST every load instead of 15 gallons. A FL washer like yours only needs a 1/4 cup of bleach to do its work compared to over 1 cup in a TL washer and it is OK to bleach dark clothing and certainly the dogs towels etc.

 

Yesterday I was working on 1990 Maytag TL washer on Capital Hill and it was a stinky-slimy-moldy mess we were scraping mold and gunk from under the tub cover and top of the wash tub with a putty knife, that was gross.

 

The problem with going back to a TL washer is you have to use a lot more detergent and about 6 times as much hot water to get close to the cleaning efficiency of a FL washer, none of witch is good for the septic tank or your budget.
 
corgigrrl...

Sorry to reply late. The model I chose was the only top load with the mechanical dial, AWN432SP113TW04.
It is also the cheapest however that is not why I bought it.

I was actually tempted by the mid model AWNE82SP113TW01 with the touch pad. It was $50 more. As we looked over each unit in the appliance store and I kept "playing" with the pad and dials (another good reason NOT to buy floor models in stores LOL)hubby pointed out what I already knew: The mechanical dial just felt *right*, for me. Now that it is home and I am using almost daily I am absolutely in love.

I do not like touch pads. I even bought a wall oven three years ago that still had dials. I just discovered dials are no longer an option. Cannot buy one anymore. So glad I bought it when I did.

When I talk about the price I know over $800 is alot of $ but I am looking right now in the Sears ad and one of their "better" top loaders are advertised at $500 on sale (regular $800 but we know how these stores manipulate prices). They also have one for $300.
Personally I wouldn't give them $100 for either one. I'd rather put the money towards something better made right here in the US. And being an "old school" washer my husband can fix problems if they crop up.

And yes, I did hear that new, more stringent water "saving" measures are coming for dishwashers and washers, thanks to our meddling gov't. I'm thinking it was a blessing in disguise that my old one finally bit the proverbial dust when it did.

Just my opinion.
 
One more thing...

As instructed by the appliance dealer Glenn I only use about 2 tablespoons of detergent.

I copied this from a question answered at the SQ website on water usage:

"A mini cycle is 16.3 gal, small is 18 gal, medium is 19.7 gal, and X-large is 21.5 gallons"

According to Glenn my old Maytag averaged 50 gallons. I have been mainly using the small and medium water levels but did an X-large when it first came home as I had weeks worth of laundry.

IF I need more water there is a "reset" on the dial, turn to it and more water is added to the tub.
 
When running cycles to clean the machine don't run the machine empty, wash a full load of absorbant rags or old towels. Without any laundry to hold water to spin out, you will have minimal incidental splash in the top of the drum. A full load will spin out water all over the drum.

Another helpful hint is to switch detergents frequently, different formulations work better against different deposits.

With proper usage a front load machine will never get smelly. Any you get to enjoy the improved performance a front load machine offers in cleaning ability, capacity, efficiency and increased garment life. No doubt the Speed Queen top loaders are solid machines, but I'd never choose one, especially on a septic system.
 
Your Maytag used the quoted amount of water for a full cycle ... two fills, one for wash & one for rinse, so only half the total is for the wash water.

My guess is that the quoted SQ water use is for the Normal Eco cycle which does not run a full-fill rinse, so you're closer with it on a single fill to the Maytag amount than you think in regards to detergent dosing requirements.
 
thoughts...

I really must disagree here with the claim of putting articles into a Clean Washer cycle.
Especially if you use the designated "basket clean" or "clean washer" cycle.

My Maxima spins the basket very quickly in both directions to wash water up around the boot and around the whole tub.
Washers today will often SENSE whether there are clothing in this cycle. If it senses articles in the clean washer cycle, it will stop and error out.
RUN THIS CYCLE EMPTY with designated machine cleaner, dishwaher tabs or just pure chlorine bleach.

For front loaders, I highly recommend (from experience) if you're using Tide or OxiClean machine cleaners, use less than the recommended dosage. These suds up far more than Whirlpool's "Affresh." And I had suds pouring out the back of my machine through the vents.
You've been warned.

Good luck.
 
I was going to mention the same thing, John. And thanks for the tip about not using Tide Washing Machine Cleaner in the Maytag Maxima. Since procuring one about a year-and-a-half ago, I switched from the Tide product to Affresh, as per machine instructions. The manual also states the machine will abort the cycle if it senses anything in the tub.

The 'clean' cycle on my 2010 Frigidaire was very anemic. Not enough water; not enough action to scrub the boot or outer tub. Phil's advice about filling the tub with rags would have worked perfectly with that machine.

The Maxima, on the other hand is definitely a hurricane in a box! There's no doubt scrubbing water action is reaching the top of the outer tub. I've only run the 'clean' cycle three times in a year-and-a-half, primarily to watch the dramatic water action, LOL. I use chlorine bleach and boosted hot water temps frequently, so doubt there's much build-up. No tell-tale funky smells, at any rate.

frigilux++12-10-2016-10-38-26.jpg.png
 
I am not on a well but on town water. I want a machine that will actually fill up.
I realize others have to consider how much they use ie my own mother has a well.

The eco cycle is an option for those who need it.
 
@ Jonn

I didn't realize you had a Maxima - Anyway - My duet is before FL machines started having designated clean washer cycles - I later found out mine has one built in but you have to enter a sequence to get it to work - I only use LCB when using the clean washer cycle. It fills with a LOT of water and rotates the drum really FAST, almost literally spinning with a tub full of water (both directions) - the ONLY problem with mine is it doesn't use HOT water, only warm....so it doesn't do as good of a job as later machines with some built in ones. I don't even think the heater is even active in mine during the clean washer cycle.....I hardly ever use it anyway, but I have used it a few times. It's pretty wild to watch. Good to know about the machine cleaners and not using too much.
 

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